"To capitalize on anti-Muslim sentiment," the Times recalls, "detractors took to calling him 'Barack Hussein Obama.' ... Stripped of such evil intent, the 'Hussein' in Obama's full name shouldn't be taboo. Nor should the idea of an openly Muslim citizen deciding to seek the presidency."

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life last year released a poll indicating that American Muslims are "largely assimilated, happy with their lives and moderate with respect to many of the issues that have divided Muslims and Westerners around the world" and that "Muslim Americans reject Islamic extremism by larger margins than do Muslim minorities in Western European countries."

Says the Times: "The way to increase those numbers is to make clear that an American with an Islamic faith -- or an Islamic name -- is not a second-class citizen. When the new president takes the oath, he should say, loudly and proudly: 'I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.'"